The best Nintendo Switch accessories

One of the first purchases you should make after buying a Switch is a microSD card. It’ll give you more space for downloading games, which is something you’ll need unless you’re devoted to buying physical copies of games. For reference, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is 16 GB in size, which will take a huge chunk of out the Switch or Switch Lite’s 32 GB internal storage (and some Switch games are even bigger). The Switch OLED has 64 GB, but that likely won’t last you long, either.

Prices for high-capacity microSD cards keep falling as the years go by, and it’s relatively easy to find a 512 GB model for $40 to $50. I suggest getting the most capacious one you can afford, as to limit the likelihood of having to buy another in the future.

The Joy-Cons included with each Switch work well for some people. For others, they become uncomfortable during long play sessions. A quick, affordable enhancement to boost your comfort is a pack of Skull & Co.‘s thumbstick grips, which easily fit onto the analog sticks. It comes with three varieties, all of which increase the grippiness of the sticks. And if it’s extra stick height you’re after, there are two options for increasing the sticks’ height and radius, in addition to the standard model.

We highly suggest getting a screen protector for your Switch. This one covers the screen and bezel, so it’ll take the initial hit from a drop or a rough jab before the Switch’s panel gets damaged. Plus, given that the regular Switch and Switch Lite have plastic-coated displays, putting one of these on will make the screen look and feel a little more premium. The Switch OLED does have a glass-covered screen, but we still recommend sticking a protector on it for added peace of mind.

Remedy the Switch’s lackluster Wi-Fi download speeds and improve online gaming performance with a gigabit-ready USB 3.0 to Ethernet adapter. Feed an Ethernet cable from your modem into the adapter, then plug it into one of the USB type A ports on your Switch’s TV dock.

If you own a Switch OLED, the dock that came with that console already has an Ethernet port, so in that case this adapter is unnecessary.

Unlike the Switch Joy-Cons — which are two small controllers trying to mimic one large controller — the Pro Controller feels like the complete package. It has a dedicated D-pad, larger face buttons, more prominent analog sticks, and much easier-to-hit shoulder buttons. This is in addition to an amiibo reader, HD rumble, and a gyroscope.

This standard-size controller also has a similar size and weight to other controllers from Sony and Microsoft, which helps it feel more familiar — and often more comfortable — than the Switch’s Joy-Con setup.

Here’s a scenario many Switch owners have faced: You own an Xbox or PlayStation controller, and purchasing a new one that works for your Switch isn’t viable.

Thankfully, there’s an option that’ll let you use any of your preexisting controllers with your Switch. 8BitDo’s USB Adapter 2 transmitter plugs into one of the USB ports of your Switch’s dock and with a push of a button allows you to pair a controller. This will work with any controller dating back to the Wii and PS3 era, though you’ll need two USB Adapter 2s if you want to pair two of the supported controllers.

After connecting my PlayStation 5’s DualSense, I was shocked to be able to play Splatoon 3 with accurate rumble and motion control support. Granted, the on-screen button prompts in Switch games may not accurately reflect the buttons on your controller, but this is a good, affordable option if you’re operating on a strict budget.

8BitDo appears in many of Polygon’s accessory roundups for good reason: The company excels at making great accessories at multiple price points.

Its Ultimate 2C controller works seamlessly with the Nintendo Switch, yet only costs $29.99. While it lacks the ability to set multiple control profiles (something the pricier Ultimate Bluetooth controller below can do), it has some stellar features at this price, like Hall-effect joysticks that won’t develop drift over time and the ability to wake your Switch from sleep by turning on the controller and shaking it (as the Ultimate Bluetooth can, too). Plus, it supports motion controls and has rumble.

If you want a more premium wireless Switch controller that works with multiple devices, the Ultimate Bluetooth from 8BitDo is a great option. In addition to the usual set of buttons, sticks, and triggers, it includes two rear back paddles that can be customized within 8BitDo’s PC or mobile app.

In addition to connecting via Bluetooth to Switch, mobile, PC, and other platforms, it includes a charging dock that connects via USB-C. It houses an 8BitDo USB Adapter 2 transmitter, allowing the controller to communicate with it via a reliable 2.4 GHz connection.

The Hori Split Pad Pro is a pair of detachable controllers that you can use in place of the much smaller standard Joy-Cons. These large gamepads significantly increase the bulk of the Switch, making them more comfortable for those with larger hands. They also have bigger... just about everything. The sticks, triggers, and buttons feel akin to other console controllers. However, they miss out on Joy-Con-exclusive functionality, like rumble, amiibo support, and the ability to operate while disconnected from the Switch; these only work when attached to it.

We praised the Split Pad Pro for working well with most games in our review, and we found it was especially helpful when playing games with complicated control schemes. The gamepads even have additional buttons on the back that you can assign to customize your experience.

If you prefer a smaller, more colorful alternative, Hori makes the $49.99 Split Pad Compact. I tested out that model for The Verge, and I prefer its smaller design over the standard model.

If you suffer from any kind of pain that makes using the Switch in portable mode a no-go, or you want to more easily play wherever you want without holding it, you should check out this gooseneck cradle.

By detaching your Switch’s Joy-Cons, you can clamp the Switch (or another screen) onto this articulating stand so that you can view it from whatever angle is most comfortable for you. Polygon’s Nicole Clark makes a great case for the gooseneck holder in her post on the peripherals that help her game with chronic pain.

The Nintendo Switch is one of the lighter portable consoles, especially compared to the Steam Deck. However, why hold it when devices exist that can do that for you? Mechanism’s gaming pillow is one of the most clever pillows out there, letting you snap the Switch onto it, then position it so it’s both comfortable to look at and to reach.

It’s also a great gateway into Mechanism’s ecosystem of accessories, which make it easier to mount the Switch where you want, as well as easier to lug accessories along during travels.

The Covert Dock 2 can connect your Switch to a TV with its USB-C and HDMI inputs, plus you can plug in a USB-A accessory. It can charge a little faster than the 20 W Covert Dock Mini below, thanks to its 45 W charging, and it can display up to 4K at 60 frames per second. This model can also be used with a host of other gadgets, serving just as well as a USB-C hub for your iPad, laptop, and more.

The Switch dock that Nintendo includes is bulky when bringing it along on trips. And while the Covert Dock 2 is great smaller option, if you’re looking to save even more space, Genki’s Covert Dock Mini is the way to go. It has a USB-C port (20 W charging) and an HDMI port with 4K/30 frames per second support — more than you need to output your Switch’s interface to a TV or monitor. In addition to serving as a Switch dock that fits in your pocket, it’s compatible with any device that can output video via USB-C, like the Steam Deck, some iPads, Android phones, and laptops.

The Nintendo Switch consoles have a decent battery life when playing in handheld mode, but they won’t last as long as, say, your phone. If you’re away from your dock and need to charge the system after a few hours of intense gameplay, you can simply plug a USB-C cable into the console. (Chances have never been higher that it’s the same connector your laptop or phone uses.) This charger will also work great with the Steam Deck, which has the same type of charging connector.

Our favorite portable battery is the Baseus 65 W USB-C battery that has a 20,000mAh capacity. Its charging speed is definitely overkill for the Switch’s maximum power usage (perhaps it’ll be just right for the Switch 2, though), but at its affordable price, who cares? It’s nice to have a product you won’t need to replace when you upgrade your tech.